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As I sat down today, and finished my six page essay over the Dukes of Hazzard for my Honors English 3 class, I got to thinking about making a thread on here about what the Dukes means to each of us. I'm going to post my essay on here for ya'll as it gives insight of what my opinions are and what my feelings are. Hazzard County U.S.A. As many people know, on January 26, 1979 the pilot episode, One Armed Bandits, of the hit 80's southern television show, The Dukes of Hazzard, aired on television for the first time. Many people, including the critics, at first thought the show was "idiotic," "racist," and "low rating." Fans across the world though, including myself, believe otherwise. The show was all about the closeness of one family and the political corruptness of the small southern town that the Dukes, along with some other friends, had to find a way to bring justice and peace to Hazzard County. Though, each sow might have a congruent plot, the Dukes get in trouble, car chases and crashes, and some good old country "shucking and jiving," each show also teaches young children and adults alike the true meaning of family, respect, and a good sense of responsibility, even good judgment towards others. We all knew problems were bound to arise sooner or later. And for this great series it came to us Dukes fans as a hard hitting catastrophy. At the beginning of the fifth season our beloved Bo and Luke Duke left Hazzard County, and our television sets, to fulfill their dreams of being on the NASCAR circuit. Cousins, or as some would say, clones Coy and Vance Duke took over behind the wheel of the General Lee. Chaotic and vehement fans were displeased with the outcome of the feud that actors Tom Wopat (Luke Duke) and John Schneider (Bo Duke) had with Warner Brothers television company. The disagreement was over Warner Brothers cheating the two out of royalties from the sale of $190 million dollars of Dukes merchandise. For eighteen long and agonizing episodes, fans of the newly fallen show that once was a hit, turned their dials to something else. Though, when the episode, "Welcome Back, Bo and Luke," aired on t.v. millions of crushed "Dukies" rejoiced to see the original blonde and brunette back in the driver's seat. My personal views on the whole situation is that I believe if Tom and John would have actually took the time to sit down and think about their actions before acting on impulse, the show would still be on air right now. If it hadn't been for the "clones" to take their place for what short time they did, we wouldn't have gotten the other two great seasons we got. Respect. I have deep respect for each cast member and writer. Because no matter what the issue or what the critics vamped about, they continued to do their job and they performed it splendidly. The writers and actors themselves had the guts to tell the critics that they didn't care what they thought, if the audience liked it, then they would continue to do what they do best, entertain us fans. And entertain us they did, for seven seasons we laughed, we cried, and we smiled. I have been a fan for twelve years and am still a true die hard Dukes fan. Since I was five years old I have always looked at my family as the " Dukes of Hazard", or at least, like them in a sense. My family, as was the Dukes, is a close knit family who, if the occasion arises, fights the system when it needs to be fought against. Each member of my family plays an important role as did each member of the Duke family on the show. As I have mentioned before, many people have feelings of racism, hatred, and pure ignorance towards the show, but to some of us this show means so much more than just another eight o' clock Friday night television series. This show gave us something to live for, to be excited about each time we heard Waylon Jennings, the balladeer, or Bo Duke's infamous rebel yell, the powerful V-8 motor of the Confederate stock car, the 1969 dodge charge known as the General Lee, or even when we heard the first twelve notes of Dixie roaring through the air, our blood would run "orange" each Friday night as we hung on to our seats like Bo and Luke would as they gave chase to the bumbling Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane and his trusty side-kick, the lovable basset hound named Flash. We would giggle and make incoherent noises right along with the child-at-heart sheriff. The show taught us that all growing up comes with a little bit of pain, it taught us that our pride makes for a good servant, but a poor master. This show holds special moments for some of us, it touches our hearts in a way no one or anything else could. Like peach ice cream at a church picnic, as the summary of the seventh and final season reads, nothing lasts forever. All good things must come to an end, and sadly, on February 8, 1985, the Dukes of Hazzard went off air. Millions of fans across the world mourned as if they had lost a loved one. And they did, they had lost a whole family of loved ones. But, thank the lord for technology! Fans would soon be hooping and hollering, as now the entire Dukes of Hazzard, seasons one through seven are out on DVD. Two reunion movies since then had been created, Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! and Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood. These two movies let us reminisce with the good ol' boys as they come back to Hazzard after twelve years, and even let us take a trip out of Hazzard to the busy streets of Hollywood U.S.A. Sadly though, as time passed before, during, and after the filming of these movies, we lost three beloved members of the cast. Greedy and devious Boss Hogg (Sorrell Booke) passed away, The Duke patriarch, Jesse Duke (Denver Pyle) passed away, and the loving Balladeer, Waylon Jennings, he too passed on. But, to help re-live Dukes' memories and some of Boss's schemes, writers across the globe write pieces of material called Fandom Fictions in honor of the Dukes. Writers, myself included, make up their own fictional Hazzard County characters to add to the plot lines or they use original characters from the show to reminisce a favorite episode or to re-write a favorite episode. And, as if all this great stuff wasn't enough, there's even a fun filled festival called Dukesfest created in honor of the show! That's right, if watching the high flying stunts wasn't good enough, you can come here to watch them live. Even hear great music, and are ya ready for the finale? Meet the Dukes of Hazzard cast! As I bring us to a tragic ending, I'd like to share with you what a wonderful twelve years it has been being a fan of the great tv hit series, the Dukes of Hazzard. The Dukes plays an important role in my life. It acts as my guide, to lead me down the road of right. Ingenuity, Integrity, Honesty, Honor, Pride, Love, Team work, these are all words used to describe the show or the values it taught you. The Dukes mean more to me than, besides my family, anything else in this world. Nothing could possibly replace it. Scenes from the show warms my heart when the Dukes help an enemy or brighten the face of an orphaned child. Tears pool in my eyes when one of the characters pours out their heart because a friend is in grave danger. You may call it an obsession, you may call me insane, but no one knows what that show means to me or any other fan. For those of us who have a life full of hardships and difficulties, seeing Bo's bright smile, or Luke's dazzling blue eyes, or hearing Daisy's laugh, pay close attention and listen to Jesse's advice, or even watch a scene with Boss and Rosco's hilarious antics, it's hard for anyone not to smile at it and brighten up. Hazzard county has become a comfort zone to many and a safe haven for all. And so, with all that being said, I'll hope to have sparked interest in many and help others gain insight on this glorious show. Keep it between the Ditches, as they would say in Hazzard County. keep in mind some information such as dates could be wrong i've heard the last airing date was August 16th and the last airing date was February 8th so I don't know for sure.

Lori, That was a wonderful paper - I hope it does very well in class. Getting back to the thread...I can't really put into words what the Dukes means to me. Ever since it first aired it has been a part of my life. I remember watching the original run - from the first part of the opening, until the end of the end-credits, every week. I know that I must have stopped watching when Coy and Vance came on - and I returned with Bo and Luke. After the first run I couldn't necessarily remember every plot, or everything that happened, but the lessons I learned and the sense of family I felt stayed with me long after the last episode. I remember my excitement when the first reunion movie came out - I couldn't wait to see it. I sat in front of the TV with all the anticipation I'd had as a kid, waiting for that orange car to go flying through the air. My life changed drastically between the time the first reunion aired and the second one did. I lost some people who were very dear to me, including my father, and I gained other people who have become incredibly dear in their own right. And most of those newer friendships, kinships, sprang up around a common love of this very uncommon television show that if the critics had had their way would never have seen more than one episode. The Dukes has been a part of my life since the first episode -and I am so glad to have it as part of my life still. It will always be my favorite show - and much more than that. It will always be a part of me.

Before I discovered Hazzardnet I didn't really know anybody else who shared my intense love of the Dukes. That why everybody here means so much to me. I truly feel like a part of a large family with a strong common bond. Things like Lori's school paper simply make that bond even stronger. Thanks for the offer of the Kleenex General but I think I'm okay. I think my tears were just allergies. For some amazing coincidence, my allergies seem to always act up whenever I read posts like that.

Cooter and the Dukes deal with a turning point in their lives and the idea for the infamous Blue Angel is born. Takes place on November 8, 1986, at the Naval Air Station in Oceana, Virginia. http://www.misslindalee.com/dukes/stories/blueangel.html Let me know what you guys think.